Soil And River As Sources Of Living

griculture is integral in the lives of the villagers in Kampung Batu Sawar. This is claimed to be true as many villagers work as rubber tappers and work on their own rubber holdings. Once, when the rubber industry experienced a slump in price that was RM0.70 per kilogram, many villagers had shifted their work interest to other jobs.

Rubber tree plantation in the village

Fortunately for those who endured the challenge facing the rubber industry, they can now gain a handsome profit due to the increasing world prices of rubber. The current price of rubber which is about RM3.00 per kilogram has uplifted the villagers’ economy. From an average income of RM650.00 now the villagers could afford to gain around RM1, 000.00.

Among the oil palm trees planted by the villagers

A few smallholders work in oil palm plantation to generate their income. The recent palm oil price of RM700.00 per tonne attracts the villagers to work in this industry.

While rubber tree and oil palm plantations become the main source of income for many villagers, the Pahang River supplements the income of some villagers. Using fishnet and traditional equipment such as lukah (riverine fish-trap), the villagers aim to catch freshwater fish such as kerai, silver catfish, baung or mystus sp. and many more. Normally the fishing activities at this river are done during their pastimes.